Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 — Section 170: Refunds

170. Refunds.— (1) A taxpayer who has paid tax in excess of the amount which the taxpayer is properly chargeable under this Ordinance may apply to the Commissioner for a refund of the excess. 1[(1A) Where any advance or loan, to which sub-clause (e) of clause (19) of section 2 applies, is repaid by a taxpayer, he shall be entitled to a refund of the tax, if any, paid by him as a result of such advance or loan having been treated as dividend under the aforesaid provision.]

(2)An application for a refund under sub-section (1) shall be –

(a)made in the prescribed form;

(b)verified in the prescribed manner; and

(c)made within 2[three] years of the later of

(i)the date on which the Commissioner has issued the assessment order to the taxpayer for the tax year to which the refund application relates; or

(ii)the date on which the tax was paid.

(3)Where the Commissioner is satisfied that tax has been overpaid, the Commissioner shall

(a)apply the excess in reduction of any other tax due from the taxpayer under this Ordinance;

(b)apply the balance of the excess, if any, in reduction of any outstanding liability of the taxpayer to pay other taxes; and

(c)refund the remainder, if any, to the taxpayer.

(4)The Commissioner shall, within 3[sixty] days of receipt of a refund application under sub-section (1), serve on the person applying for the refund an order in writing of the decision 4[after providing the taxpayer an opportunity of being heard]. 1 Inserted by the Finance Act, 2003. 2 The word “two” substituted by the Finance Act, 2016. 3 The word “forty five” substituted by the Finance Act, 2009. 4 Inserted by the Finance Act, 2003. 354 Chapter X – Procedure 1[(5) A person aggrieved by

(a)an order passed under sub-section (4); or

(b)the failure of the Commissioner to pass an order under sub section (4) within the time specified in that sub-section, may prefer an appeal under Part III of this Chapter.] 2[(6) The Board may make rules regulating procedure for expeditious processing and automatic payment of refunds through centralized processing system with effect from a date to be notified by the Board.] 3[170A. Electronic processing and electronic issuance of Refunds by the Board.—Notwithstanding anything contained in section 170 of this Ordinance, commencing from tax year 2021, the Board may process and issue refund to the taxpayer who has filed the return of income without requiring refund application by the taxpayer to the extent of tax credit verified by the Board’s computerized system as may be prescribed. The refund amount sanctioned under this section shall be electronically transferred in the taxpayer’s notified bank account.]